Tombstone epitaph., 1887-08-06
A MILE A MINUTE.
Railroad Trains Which Have Become Mar.
 vels of Speed

By far the most important element in
 the comfort of the traveller is the rate oi
 continuous speed attained by railroad
 train. The high rate of the accommoda
 ton train does not offset the worry and
 fret Of the frequent stops, and Q long
 run without getting over much ground
 is an annoyance almost as grievous as being side-tracked in the broiling sun on
 hot summers day to wait for belaid
 freight train or an aggrayating exour-
 sion which blocks the way. England,
 as recent essay by MT. A. l.. Koch shows, surpasses us both in the number
 and speed of its fast trains, but Ger.
 many, though only little behind, cap
 hardly claim any superiority over this
 country in the matter of fast trains.
 The fastest train in the world for some
 years, and it probably is so still, though
 it's time has been somewhat reduced, is
 'The Flying Dutchman," which used
 tC cover the distance between London
 and Bristol, 1l9f miles, in two hours.
 Germany follows with a train from Der
 lin to Hanover, which runs l52S miles
 in three hours and forty eight minutes,
 wAlch is at the rate of 51.7 miles au hour.
 The palm for speed in this country is
 closely contested by the two companies performing the service between Phila- delphia and New York. During the Centennial two hours and half was 5he shortest time known between New York and Philadelphia. Since then two hour trains have become frequent upon the timetable, and the compe......ion us to which road should make that time the oftener has been very sharp. Ac- cording to the schedule, the train ieav- ing Jersey City by the Pennsylvania at 4:OS P' M. runs at the rate of AIS miles an hour, while that on the Bound Brook route runs at the rate of 47.7, but has mile less distance to run and less popu- ious towns to traverse. It is difficult to say whiUn best deserves the palm for fast time. For long distance the New York and Chicago limited is without a rival in the world, making. as it does, 913 miles in twenty-five hours. The fastest long-distance train, and the fast est train for any distance of more than fifty miles, is the express on the Orleans
 inc between Paris and Bordedux, which runs 359 miles in nine hours and ten minutes, or thirty-nine miles an hour.
 The elements entering into the short ening of time between two distances are many and they increase rapidly, even gut or proportion to the gain in the speed. Exceptional runs have been made on nearly every railway in the country, and there are few first-class roads over which q passenger coach has not been hauled at the rate of mile minute. MT. Vanderbilt has often travelled ,ne hundred miles in one hun dred minutes, and an engine has drawn . single coach between Philadelphia and New York in nincty"fye minutes. The 4:OS train previously spoken of always runs some parts Of the distance at rate of more than a milo minute, and it's easiest run is from New Brunswick to Trenton-tweuty-tive miles in twentv- six minutes and half. The speed is only possible, however, with heavy engine, heavy steel rails, solid roai. bed, comparatively light train. slight grades, and easy curves. All of these elements have their force, and how great IOib' Nlb bt tStttL HHNtlSiDOl WUen ll 1 is known that the improvements now making vl the Pennsylvania will enable he company to shorten the time be- .ween New York and Philadelphia ten % fifteen minutes, without any faster | than is done on many long stretches now. The strengthening of | he track and the moving of the bridge across the Passalc and the finishing of he last cut through Bergen hill will ave foul minutes in the eight miles be- ween Newark and New York, and ths of the grade and sinking of racks through tue northern part of will help almost as much nore When the work is completed to New York in one hundred minutes" will be a reality rather than a possibD ty. y.-Fhsia,iclphia Press.